Tractor Supply CUP hearing redone, approved

BONNERS FERRY — Due to a noticing issue at the former Planning and Zoning hearing, the Tractor Supply Co. store conditional use permit hearing had to be redone before the commissioners on April 4. It was approved unanimously.

The CUP was needed to allow the approximately 19,000-square-foot Tractor Supply Co. store, since the zoning in that location only allowed structures up to 15,000 square feet.

The hearing had to be re-done, as known as a de-novo hearing, due a nearby property owner not receiving notice of the hearing, since he purchased the property after the planning and zoning had prepared the mailing labels for the notices.

Clare Marley with Reun-Yager contracted for Boundary County Planning and Zoning “This is to ensure proper due process with this.”

The rest of the project has already been approved by commissioners last month and so the meeting was a procedural correction and was not another hearing for the entire application.

Members of public comment reverted to comments from previous hearings and stuck to topics of road variances and not the CUP. Many members of the public spoke out of order once the hearing was closed and interrupted during the applicant’s rebuttal.

Several members of the public were told they were out of order by the commissioners and planning and zoning staff, as they spoke when the public hearing had ended and rebuttal for the applicant and appellant began.

When the public hearing was opened, Commissioner Tim Bertling reminded those present that hearings is an official proceeding by Idaho Code and taped for official public record.

Under Idaho Code (18-1351) an official proceeding, means a proceeding heard or which may be heard before any legislative, judicial, administrative or other governmental agency or official authorized to take evidence under oath.